Residents of long-term care can now venture out of their facilities for less than 24 hours, regardless if they’ve been vaccinated, and not have to quarantine when they return as long as they have not been in contact with someone infected with COVID-19.
The latest guidance update from the Minnesota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued Thursday, means long-term care residents will be able to visit family for one-day holiday outings such as Easter and other celebrations.
“This guidance change presents a nice opportunity for faith-based and family outings for this and other upcoming weekends,” said Jan Malcolm, state health commissioner. “However, it is still very important for residents and their companions to follow recommendations such as well-fitting masks, physical distancing and hand washing.”
The change comes a day after state officials updated guidelines for assisted living facilities so residents can be closer than six feet a part. Residents gathering together are also encouraged to wear masks unless they are eating. Those changes in proximity rules announced Wednesday do not include nursing homes, which are federally regulated.
HIT HARD
Seniors and residents of long-term care have been hard hit by the pandemic.
About 89 percent of Minnesota’s COVID-19 deaths were residents 65 and older. Of the 6,860 fatalities, 4,280 occurred in long-term care facilities.
New cases and fatalities have improved in long-term care facilities since the state prioritized the highest risk residents in its vaccine push. About 81 percent of seniors have gotten at least one dose of vaccine.
However, the number of long-term care facilities with at least one infection in a resident or staff has been rising slowly for a number of weeks. As of Thursday, there were 165 facilities with infections in the last 28 days.
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April 02, 2021 at 06:28AM
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New COVID-19 guidance makes it easier for long-term care residents to visit family - TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
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